Types of Commercial Truck Insurance Coverage

The right commercial truck insurance program is more than a policy, it’s a revenue enabler. In this guide we’ll cover:

• Which coverages you actually need & how to size them: Primary auto liability (FMCSA-required) is non-negotiable; layer physical damage (collision/comprehensive), motor truck cargo, general liability, bobtail/Non-Trucking Liability, trailer-interchange/HNOA, UM/UIM, and rental/downtime endorsements. Anchor limits to your lanes, contracts and peak load values—not guesses.
• Filings, limits & what drives price: Key filings/end-orsements (MCS-90, BMC-91X/BMC-91, COIs) and why rates vary—state, radius, commodities, driver MVRs, loss runs, equipment age/value. Hazmat or high-value freight usually requires higher limits or special endorsements.
• How to quote fast & keep premiums down: Collect VINs, driver roster/MVRs, 3–5 years loss runs, lanes/garaging, and authority/lease docs; run pre-renewal checks 60–90 days out; compare apples-to-apples at renewal (limits, deductibles, exclusions). Simplex Group bundles quoting, filings and COIs so you can win lanes faster and avoid coverage gaps.

As a specialist at Simplex Group, I help carriers, small fleets, and owner-operators tune their insurance mix so they can run profitable miles without compliance headaches. We’ve supported America’s trucking industry for more than 20 years, and because we’re a one-stop shop (insurance plus DOT compliance, permitting, factoring, and freight planning), I’ll keep this guide practical, not theoretical. Below I’ll break down the coverages you actually need, how they work together, what they cost on average, and how to get a quote fast, without paying for fluff or missing critical protections.

Commercial truck insurance coverage options

Primary auto liability (FMCSA-required)

If your truck is operating under your own authority, primary auto liability is the non-negotiable core of your policy. It pays for bodily injury and property damage you cause to others in an at-fault accident. Shippers, brokers, and the FMCSA treat it as the price of admission; no primary, no loads. In my day-to-day, I see two mistakes: (1) carriers forget how radius, driver MVRs, and commodity affect pricing, and (2) they assume the same limit fits every contract. My approach is simple, anchor limits to your lanes and contracts, then layer endorsements so you’re not overpaying for exposure you don’t have.

General liability for motor carriers

Primary covers what happens with the truck on the road. General liability (GL) covers your business operations off the road—think a customer slip-and-fall at your yard, advertising injury, or loading/unloading incidents that don’t neatly land in auto liability. Many new entrants mix these up. When a broker asks for “GL,” they usually mean a separate commercial general liability policy for the motor carrier entity, not more auto liability. I line up GL when you have a physical location, customer foot traffic, or contracts that explicitly require it.

Physical damage (comprehensive & collision) for semi trucks

Physical damage protects your own tractor and trailer, regardless of fault. It splits into collision (impact) and comprehensive (theft, fire, vandalism, certain weather). Deductibles matter: too low and you overpay in premium; too high and a single claim dents cash flow. We regularly right-size deductibles based on equipment age, lienholder requirements, and your tolerance for out-of-pocket expense. Pro tip from our renewals team: pair physical damage with rental reimbursement & downtime so a loss doesn’t idle your revenue.

Motor truck cargo insurance

Cargo insurance pays for cargo you’re legally liable for if it’s lost or damaged during transit. Coverage can be named-perils or all-risk with exclusions. Read the fine print on reefer breakdown, temperature deviation, theft restrictions (unattended vehicle clauses), and co-insurance. I’ve seen strong operators tripped up by a misdeclared commodity or an unreported change in reefer age. My rule: match limits to your peak load value, not your average, and lock in endorsements that reflect your actual freight (produce, electronics, hazmat, high-theft items).

Bobtail vs non-trucking liability insurance (when each applies)

These two get confused constantly:

If you’re an owner-operator under lease, your motor carrier may provide primary liability while under dispatch; you still need NTL (and often physical damage). We tailor the mix to your lease terms so you don’t double-pay.

Trailer interchange & hired/non-owned auto

Trailer Interchange covers non-owned trailers you pull under a written interchange agreement; it’s essential for drop-and-hook operations. Hired & Non-Owned Auto (HNOA) extends liability to vehicles you hire/borrow but don’t own—handy when your ops occasionally rent tractors for surge capacity. I add these when your load board mix or contracts imply frequent non-owned equipment.

UM/UIM & medical payments

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) steps in when the other driver can’t cover your losses. MedPay is a modest medical benefit that pays regardless of fault. I consider both worker protection tools; they won’t fix a wrecked truck, but they protect the people who keep your wheels turning.

Rental reimbursement with downtime (keep wheels turning)

This endorsement helps you rent a temporary unit and/or get daily downtime compensation while your truck is in covered repair. If you depend on a single tractor, this can be the difference between staying on the road and burning through savings. In my experience, downtime is undervalued until a claim hits—then it becomes a fleet-saver.

Minimum insurance requirements for commercial trucks (DOT/FMCSA)

Baseline: If you operate in interstate commerce under your own authority, you’ll need the appropriate FMCSA filings and to meet federal minimum liability thresholds (which vary by commodity and weight class). Hazmat and certain high-risk cargo typically require higher limits, and many shippers/brokers set contractual minimums above the federal floor.

Filings & forms (MCS-90, BMC-91X, COIs)

• MCS-90: Endorsement attached to your liability policy to ensure financial responsibility compliance.
• BMC-91X/BMC-91: Proof of liability coverage filed with the FMCSA for carriers with authority.
• Certificates of Insurance (COIs): What brokers/shippers request; we issue them fast so you don’t miss tenders.

When shippers/brokers require higher limits

Don’t be surprised if a produce shipper or electronics broker demands higher limits or specific endorsements (e.g., reefer breakdown, theft safeguards). My playbook: profile your top lanes, top customers, and target freight, then set limits that clear current and near-term opportunities. That way, you’re not re-shopping coverage mid-quarter when a lucrative lane pops up.

Average cost of commercial truck insurance (and what drives it)

There isn’t a one-size price tag, but premiums respond to a handful of levers you can manage:

Factors: state, radius, commodities, driver MVRs, loss runs, equipment value

• Where you run: Dense metros and litigation-heavy states price higher.
• How far you run: Long-haul with overnight parking changes theft exposure.
• What you haul: High-theft or temperature-sensitive goods push up cargo and liability rates.
• Who drives: Clean MVRs, stable employment, and training history matter.
• Your history: Loss runs (typically 3–5 years) heavily influence offers.
• Your equipment: Tractor/trailer age and value tie directly to physical damage cost.

New authority vs leased owner-operators: what to expect

• New authority: Expect higher base rates while you build safety history. We mitigate with telematics, driver onboarding standards, and smart deductible choices.
• Leased O/Os: The carrier often covers primary liability under dispatch; you typically carry NTL, physical damage, and sometimes cargo depending on the lease.

How annual reviews lower premiums over time

At Simplex, we recommend an annual insurance review. As your business grows or pivots (new lanes, different commodities, added drivers), a tune-up helps keep you compliant and affordable. I’ve seen fleets shave meaningful premium by aligning limits, deductibles, and endorsements to their current operations—not last year’s.

Commercial truck insurance for owner-operators

Under a lease vs under your own authority: coverage mix

• Under lease: Confirm in writing what the carrier covers. Your likely list: NTL, physical damage, optional UM/UIM and MedPay, and sometimes cargo if the lease pushes responsibility to you.
• Own authority: You’ll need the full stack: primary liability, cargo, physical damage, GL (often), and filings. We also look at HNOA and trailer interchange if your ops require it.

Operationally, I start with your lease/authority paperwork, then build a coverage map so there’s no overlap or dangerous gaps.

The right insurance program isn’t just a compliance box—it’s a revenue enabler. When coverage, filings, and operations are aligned, you win better freight, recover faster from losses, and keep cash flow predictable. At Simplex Group, we “leave no stone unturned” to improve both coverage and cost, and we recommend a yearly review so your program evolves with your business.

Best commercial truck insurance for a new trucking business

Day-1 checklist: filings, minimums, and smart add-ons

• Entity & MC/USDOT setup complete
• Primary liability quoted with the right limits and filings (BMC-91X, MCS-90)
• Cargo tailored to your commodity and peak load value
• Physical damage on tractor/trailer with realistic deductibles
• GL if contracts require it
• Consider UM/UIM, MedPay, rental/downtime, and HNOA/trailer interchange as your lanes demand

Avoiding coverage gaps that derail onboarding

Gaps I see most: missing reefer breakdown for produce, insufficient cargo limit for occasional high-value loads, and COIs that don’t match contract language. We prevent these by aligning insurance before you bid new freight.

How to get a quote for commercial truck insurance?

Documents & data you’ll need

• VINs, makes, models, stated values
• Driver roster with license states, MVR consent, experience
• Loss runs (3–5 years where applicable)
• Operations: lanes, radius, commodities, garaging locations, security practices
• Authority/lease documents and any required COI wording

Step-by-step quoting with a one-stop partner

At Simplex Group, we simplify the entire process: we collect docs once, shop the right markets, align filings, and coordinate COIs with brokers so you can onboard quickly. Because we also handle DOT compliance, permitting, factoring, and freight planning, your insurance program fits your real-world operations—not the other way around.

Commercial truck insurance checklist for a small fleet

Quarterly

• Review lanes/commodities; flag changes that affect limits or endorsements
• Audit driver files and MVRs; address training gaps
• Verify COIs match top customer contracts

Pre-renewal (60–90 days)

• Order updated loss runs
• Reassess equipment values and deductibles
• Validate filings and any new broker requirements

At renewal

• Compare quotes apples-to-apples (limits, deductibles, exclusions)
• Lock in downtime/rental if a single truck would cripple revenue
• Schedule next annual review so coverage evolves with your business